By HOWARD GRYDER
Journal Correspondent

When I first read the headlines of a story on page 10, I got a gut feeling that this was leading up to a huge request for a federally funded feasibility fact finding fantasy! It's happened so many times in the past.

The more I read, the more I felt it was sure to be. The headlines read, "War Against Kudzu has Army Brass in Mother of All Tangles." With that approach, you just know the contents to follow has got to be good. I read on.

It seems that the kudzu plant, in its growing pattern, had completely wrapped up several infantry training sites at Fort Bragg, N.C., the Redstone Arsenal, and the Anniston Army Depot in Alabama, plus Fort Jackson in South Carolina. The fast-growing vine had formed a heavy canopy which was preventing training exercises to continue and/or to be completed on schedule. Not only was the plant hindering the movement of troops but Humvees, Armored Personnel Carriers, and 68-ton Abrams tanks were being delated in their strategic maneuvers of support.

Meanwhile, valuable time was lost in relocating alternate training sites and the troops spent many hours cleaning the area of some of the thick cover, which provided ideal cover and protection for one of the most poisonous snakes found in the U.S., the copperhead.

What is kudzu? Most everyone raised in the South knows. For those who don't, the plant is a fast-growing vine that produced large leaves that look similar to a soybean leaf. Kudzu is in the legume family and is considered somewhat ornamental in its appearance and growth pattern. In fact, it was brought to the U.S. in the early 1800s for that purpose. The rich folks in the south and southeastern part of the U.S. had the plant imported from mainland China to decorate the many large landscapes found surrounding the plantation homes of that era.

After observing the growing habits of kudzu, the U.S. Department of Agriculture decided that the plant would benefit the countryside that was marred by erosion and bare spots along the growing number of highways.

During the height of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) days, camp members were busy planting kudzu crowns on eroding roadsides, newly constructed bridges and highways, as well as waterways or any area subject to water and/or wind erosion. The results were amazing, in that once established, kudzu vines grow up to as much as two feet per day!

Through the efforts of the USDA, kudzu was planted across the south and southeast as a recommended control for erosion. Soon, many fences, much timber and guidewires for high-voltage transmission lines were wrapped up with kudzu. In 1953, the USDA removed the plant from its recommended list and in 1970 it was declared a weed and many landowners and utility companies began efforts to eradicate kudzu.

Kudzu had been burned, sprayed with herbicide, and pulled up by its roots. All of these methods have either failed or proven to be too costly.

Here's the part that led me to know that my hunch was "right on" concerning a feasibility study. According to the figures reported by the Associated Press, Fort Pickett spent $58,000 to eradicate kudzu from a 128-acre training site. That's $453.13 per acre. Redstone Arsenal was treating 300 acres and those in charge were spending $400 per acre, or a total of $120,000.

Nationwide, the government estimates there is a total of 100 million acres of kudzu scattered from New England through the South and the heartland and the Pacific Northwest. They (the government) also estimate that losses in agricultural production due to interference and competition from kudzu are $7.4 billion.

These date prompted me to get ready for the proposed feasibility study and its huge price tag. I braced myself for the cost. It didn't come. A can't imagine what such an effort would cost. I remembered a part of the answer had already been developed at one of the nation's leading land grant universities - North Carolina State, located in Raleigh. Not only had several studies been conducted, but the results are in print for anyone to read.

TO summarize, chemicals are not needed to control and/or eradicate kudzu. By stocking at 59 head of goats per acre on one plot, and 99 head on another plot, not only did the goats contain or eradicate via "overgrazing," they gained weight. The daily gain ranged from 3.97 pounds per month per head, to 10.58 pounds per month per head.

Remember, no money was spent on chemicals or burning. Eradication and/or control was obtained by controlled grazing. Not only did the goats do the job of controlling or eradicating, they gained weight while doing it, they consumed the kudzu (a form of energy) and converted it (kudzu) into another form of energy (red meat). The process is easily recognized as recycling.

The conclusion statement in one of the papers says it all: "The foraging habits of goats have important environmental implications by ultimately increasing the sustainability of integrated production systems and at the same time providing an additional source of income to producers. However, the findings in this study warrant further investigation."

In another study by researchers, they conclude, "Kudzu is one of the most aggressive, competitive plants in the forests of the south and southeast; goats may offer a viable option to the repeated use of herbicides and endangering the ground water safety."

Based on the demonstration on-going at the Calhoun Research Station located in Calhoun, Louisiana, goats can and will continue to play an important role in controlling kudzu and other undesirable vegetation in pine and hardwood plantations along with existing timber stands. There is a need for extensive research to continue in the arena, especially in the parishes where timber is grown as the primary crop on the hill lands of North Louisiana. Such research should be designed and evaluated by qualified scientists with the findings shared with the users and taxpayers on a timely basis.

Common sense from Cousin Sam: "It shore is nice to be important . . . but it's a heap more important to be nice."

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